Feasibility study at Galway Airport

The owners of Galway Airport are to carry out a feasibility study to elicit ideas for the development of the Carnmore site in the long-term.

Galway City Council and Galway County Council have sought expressions of interest from companies to carry out the feasibility study.

The local authorities, joint owners of the facility, want a feasibility study carried out in order to, “identify potential opportunities for this site within the context of the economic circumstances of the region”.

In its tender, the Councils say they acquired the site, “to ensure that the maximum economic potential of this large tract of land is realised”.

They point out that it is a strategic site, adjacent to the M6 motorway and future M17/M18 motorway, Galway City, Galway Bay, the railway network, IDA strategic sites at Oranmore and Athenry, the gas and electricity national distribution network and Parkmore Enterprise Park.

The Councils purchased the facility from Galway Chamber late last year, and the €1.1 million deal for the 115 acres site was confirmed in the past few months.

The feasibility study will feed into longer term plans for the future.

In the short-term, Carnmore Aviation Limited signed an agreement with Galway City and County Councils, that it would take control of the facility for 11 months.

The private company, backed by County Galway man Brian Conneely, who operates the private airstrip at Weston outside Dublin, is paying the Councils for use of the facility during that period.

Carnmore Aviation Limited is expected to provide refuelling and rescue base for the Air Corps and Coastguard. It will also allow Galway Flying Club to continue to use it as a base for its activities.

The company operates a private taxi service between Weston and Biggin Hill, a private airport in London, which allows company executives and others to commute between the two capital cities.

It is understood a similar service could be offered to private citizens and businesspeople from Carnmore to Weston and possibly London.

September 11 is the closing date to tender for the study.